COVERED WELL !!

Reader behaviour has under gone a massive change in the last decade or so . The prime reason for this shift is technology and of late economic challenges all over the world. Publishers of Magazines are really up against it in most of the markets. They are finding it tough to arrest the dwindling readership figures year on year. Well, this doesn't mean that it's Armageddon for the printed word just yet.

Even in this chaos there's a sliver lining , some fabulous magazines are quietly championing the cause of print and are engaging the readers like never before. They are thrusting forward full steam and are busy defying the odds.......and winning. They continue to enjoy the patronage of readers around the world. The Economist to my mind is one such revered title which has braved the downturn. People who are familiar with the title are aware of it's credibility and the top notch editorial standards. This great magazine claims "it's not a chronicle of economics, rather it strives to take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress" .

The spark for this post came from one of the latest covers of The Economist. I just couldn't resist myself from talking about it. Every Issue of The Economist has a very interesting cover..... the copy, the picture, everything is so different about the magazine. Well, I think what distinguishes The Economist and the rest of the pack, is the belief that everything that you do within and outside of the magazine is important. Though the most pivotal thing is what lies between the covers, the rich credible content .....BUT EQUALLY PARAMOUNT IS THE WAY YOU PRESENT IT, PACKAGE IT.........YOU GOT TO COVER IT WELL! Whatever you do, do it with a panache !!

IT AIN'T JUST ANOTHER BOOK........IT'S A SLANT BOOK

It feels great when you see things being done differently. Doesn't it ? At least I do. I love when people talk about new ideas, wanting to break stereotype and embark on a completely new thinking. I have always believed there's no dearth of people with money, but what is really in short supply are people with ideas, new ideas, innovative ideas.

During a quick stroll after lunch in the afternoon today, I happen to hop into a book store and laid my hands on a rather odd shaped book called THE SLANT BOOK by Peter Newell. It's a picture book published in 1910, filled with rhyming poetry telling story of all the mishaps that can occur when things are on a slant.

I am sure one might wonder, what's so special about a children's book, published 100 years back? A book very few have heard and seen, one which never made it to the top 100 bestsellers list of all times.So what am I really talking here?

Well, for the curious minds, all I can say is, it's neither the title of the book nor the author that has given the spark for this post. In fact it's the beautiful amalgamation, of the core idea SLANT and the choice of the SLANT sized book to narrate the story to young impressionable minds.

Today, due to advent of Internet, the printed word is facing a real challenge. And if the authors, the editors, the publishers of books, periodicals and magazines around the world continue to turn a blind eye and fail to innovate, the future could be full of mishaps. It's time they wake-up and realise that things are on a slant. And they need to innovate like Peter Newell and his publisher did with THE SLANT BOOK.

YES, IT'S NOT JUST ANOTHER BOOK..........IT'S A SLANT BOOK.

THIS WAY PLEASE...........WELL GUIDED !!

The most simple things in marketing are more often than not, the most important ones as well. Companies spend oodles of monies to attract the customers to their stores every year. But in their unending quest for grabbing the attention, many of them often tend to forget the basics.

Look at these two pictures. A small ordinary restaurant in Connaught Place, New Delhi called English Dairy uses every trick in the bag to capture the attention of office goers as well as shoppers. Since it is not front facing, it tries to woo the people by giving them directions.

Well, when the customers can't find you, you better reach out to them and bring them in.

Interesting I thought........worth a postcard.

LOVE THAT GOOGLE DOODLE !!

I love what these guys do at Google with their logo to commemorate milestones, special dates related to people, occasions etc . Just like millions out there, even I look forward to the google doodle every time I log on to google.

We all know a still frame isn't half as exciting as a moving one. Unfortunately people who can drive change perched at the top of the ladder, seem to believe otherwise and few who think it's time, are too slow out of the blocks. In today's changing business dynamics you have to constantly look for new ways for attracting and engaging your prospects. Online companies like Google, Yahoo, Amazon have understood this very well and they have gone ahead and broken the stereotype . Traditional brick-and-mortar organisations have lot of catching up to do in order to survive and prosper in the coming years.